VW Golf Hybrid

[IceDog]

VW is to debut a new Golf Hybred in Geneva to compete with Toyota and Honda.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/02/vw-unveiling-an.html

Ice.

[AceJay]

Okay, I need to learn to drive Stick NOW.

[iScott]

70 miles to the gallon would be mighty nice. Never driven a hybrid more than a few feet, but I wonder how much of a hit the performance takes. If it came down to it, I'd take performance over fuel economy.

[2nd_BugMan]

I want one.

[marvins_dad]

That WILL be my next car if they can get it to the states!
It would be even better if they offered it in a Beetle!
(that was what the Concept 1 was supposed to have had)

Maybe this will get TJ back into a VW!

[CrazyJames]

My lease on my current golf is up in 3 years... I hope they have this one to replace it.

[digitalputty]

That is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. I need more money ... now!

[englishman11]

Finally! A hybrid with appeal! Diesel is the right direction.

[wawalker]

Wow. There are finally going to be some appealing options in vehicles within the next few years. IMO, if VW offers this across its lineup they can be a major player again.

[PostO]

Originally Posted by AceJay

Okay, I need to learn to drive Stick NOW.

Why?? It has DSG.

[callisto9]

the unfortunate thing about an uber-cool car like this is i'll never be able to afford it. i'm guessing something like this will *start* at 22K. isn't it possible to have a green-friendly, cool AND affordable car?

[antonym]

Originally Posted by callisto9

....... isn't it possible to have a green-friendly, cool AND affordable car?

Green friendly and affordable... but NOT cool

HERE

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by antonym

Green friendly and Afordable... but NOT cool

HERE

GAH! not cool! not cool at all!

[bockegg]

If this is a diesel electric hybrid then it will have more torque and power than the gasoline hybrids. It's too good on fuel, the U.S. govt. will keep it out. They don't even like us TDi'ers to get over 50 mpgs.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

That WILL be my next car if they can get it to the states!
It would be even better if they offered it in a Beetle!
(that was what the Concept 1 was supposed to have had)

Maybe this will get TJ back into a VW!

Damn, you know it. Where can I get one?

[AceJay]

Originally Posted by PostO

Why?? It has DSG.

I didn't see that, holy crap.

But I would probably transplant the motor into a Beetle, haha.

[marvins_dad]

The article hinted that it might make it in diff. platforms.

[zeusenergy]

Originally Posted by IceDog

VW is to debut a new Golf Hybred in Geneva to compete with Toyota and Honda.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/02/vw-unveiling-an.html

Ice.

I don't like, and probably wont for a long time, any type of hybrid car. There are batteries. A generator. Motor(s). And of course a complex computer control system. I have a hard time with my DBW TB on my 1.8T, it works fine- but it's really not necessary at all. Simplicity is your best friend when repair time comes around. Case in point- diesel conversions for the land rover vehicles: There is ONE WIRE on the whole driveline needed to run the vehicle. Zero plugs, no coil, almost 100% mechanical, and very few parts in the mix. You can run those engines forever and a day, with minor upkeep like oil and filters. I know we live in a computer-centric society and I'm a perpetrator there myself, with laptops, PDAs and the fact that i'm a network/tech engineer doesn't help either. But the biggest loser of all is the buyer of the fully electronic cars that represent Hybrids. Yes, there's a gas engine, but it doesn't act at all like a normal one. The visceral sounds from an exhaust and shifting manually really brings driving to a more pleasurable state. Eventually, all the fun and pleasure of driving will be drained out of vehicles and we will just tell the car where we want to go, and it will boringly bring us there.
Now a FULLY electric vehicle may be fun, lacking the sounds. But even then battery tech needs to be refined quite a bit before they become viable everyday, all the time.
Bertone (designer of older Lambos) created a concept a dozen or so years ago that had a jet engine driving a generator constantly, driving four electric motors (one at each wheel)
Now THATS a Hybrid!!!!!!

[bockegg]

Originally Posted by zeusenergy

I don't like, and probably wont for a long time, any type of hybrid car. There are batteries. A generator. Motor(s). And of course a complex computer control system. I have a hard time with my DBW TB on my 1.8T, it works fine- but it's really not necessary at all. Simplicity is your best friend when repair time comes around. Case in point- diesel conversions for the land rover vehicles: There is ONE WIRE on the whole driveline needed to run the vehicle. Zero plugs, no coil, almost 100% mechanical, and very few parts in the mix. You can run those engines forever and a day, with minor upkeep like oil and filters. I know we live in a computer-centric society and I'm a perpetrator there myself, with laptops, PDAs and the fact that i'm a network/tech engineer doesn't help either. But the biggest loser of all is the buyer of the fully electronic cars that represent Hybrids. Yes, there's a gas engine, but it doesn't act at all like a normal one. The visceral sounds from an exhaust and shifting manually really brings driving to a more pleasurable state. Eventually, all the fun and pleasure of driving will be drained out of vehicles and we will just tell the car where we want to go, and it will boringly bring us there.
Now a FULLY electric vehicle may be fun, lacking the sounds. But even then battery tech needs to be refined quite a bit before they become viable everyday, all the time.
Bertone (designer of older Lambos) created a concept a dozen or so years ago that had a jet engine driving a generator constantly, driving four electric motors (one at each wheel)
Now THATS a Hybrid!!!!!!

Toyota seems to have it down to a T!

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by zeusenergy

I don't like, and probably wont for a long time, any type of hybrid car.

Why? Because they make sense? Because they save gas and the environment, and cash for you in your wallet?

Will you not like them because they are sophisticated machines, that require little maintenance? I mean, between my two Hybrids, I have over 50,000 miles, and not one mechanical problem. Just routine change the oil. Why would one not like hybrids?

Well, they have batteries. A generator. Motor(s). And of course a complex computer control system. I have a hard time with my DBW TB on my 1.8T, it works fine- but it's really not necessary at all. Simplicity is your best friend when repair time comes around.

What could be more simple then plugging a car into a computer, reading codes, and fixing the problem? Under it all, the Hybrid is just a machine like any other.

The biggest loser of all is the buyer of the fully electronic cars that represent Hybrids. Yes, there's a gas engine, but it doesn't act at all like a normal one. The visceral sounds from an exhaust and shifting manually really brings driving to a more pleasurable state.

You mean the artificial sounds that make my hybrids sound like they are shifting gears, when really they are not? That kind of visceral sounds? Heck, I watched PIMP MY RIDE once, and they took a ordinary mini van and put this sound generator on it, that could mimic a number of vehicles. Including a tricked out Ford Mustang. So when you pushed the gas in the Mini Van, it would sound like a Ford Mustang! It was amazing.

Eventually, all the fun and pleasure of driving will be drained out of vehicles and we will just tell the car where we want to go, and it will boringly bring us there.

You mean, like in the Sci-Fi movies like I,ROBOT? Where you can manually drive, if you still wish? Personally, there are times when I am stuck in stop and go traffic, that I wish my car would just drive me there, and I could take a nap or whatever.


Don't be scarred by what you don't know. They once said that Beetles with front wheel drive would be horrible. Look how many nB's are on the road! Sometimes change is good.